Mandate & Vision
Chapter 16 of the Umbrella Final Agreement (and the individual First Nations Final Agreements) gives the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board a specific mandate and responsibilities for conserving and managing fish and wildlife in the Yukon.
Mandate
Excerpts from Chapter 16
Section 16.7.1: A Fish and Wildlife Management Board shall be established as the primary instrument of Fish and Wildlife Management in the Yukon.
Section 16.7.11: The Board, acting in the public interest and consistent with this chapter and taking into consideration all relevant factors including recommendations of the Councils, may make recommendations to the Minister, to Yukon First Nations and the Councils, on all matters related to Fish and Wildlife management, Legislation, research, policies, and programs.
Vision Statement
“We envision people and governments respectfully working together to fulfill the spirit and intent of the Umbrella Final Agreement for the long-term conservation and well-being of fish and wildlife.”
Message from the Chair
The Yukon is home to one of the most unique and forward-thinking fish and wildlife management systems in the world. Built through the Umbrella Final Agreement and shaped by generations of stewardship, our co-management system recognizes that lasting decisions are strongest when made together—through collaboration, respect, and shared responsibility.
As the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board looks to the future, this Strategic Plan reflects both the strength of that foundation and our vision for what comes next.
Across the territory, Yukoners care deeply about fish, wildlife, and the habitats that sustain them. These connections are personal, spiritual, cultural, economic, and ecological. They are part of who we are as Northerners. In a time of increasing pressures and rapid environmental change, the responsibility to conserve and manage the natural world for future generations has never been more important.
The Board’s role within the Yukon’s co-management system is to help bring people together — Yukon First Nations, governments, Renewable Resources Councils, stakeholders, and the public — to support informed, transparent, and balanced decision-making. Our work is grounded in the principles of conservation, collaboration, and the integration of scientific, local, and Traditional Knowledge.
We are committed to continuing to strengthen trust, support meaningful public engagement, and ensure that the Yukon remains a place where healthy fish and wildlife populations and strong communities can thrive together.
The challenges we face today will require thoughtful leadership, adaptability, and cooperation. But they will also require optimism — optimism grounded in the understanding that when people work together with respect and a shared purpose, we can achieve extraordinary things.
Looking ahead, we see tremendous opportunity. Opportunity to strengthen relationships. Opportunity to support local and community-based stewardship. Opportunity to improve how people engage in fish and wildlife management processes. And the opportunity to continue building a co-management system that reflects Yukoners’ values, knowledge, and vision.
On behalf of the Board, I want to thank everyone who contributes to this important and challenging work. The future of fish and wildlife management in the Yukon depends on collaboration and our continued commitment to working in the best interests of the animals, this territory, its people, and the generations yet to come.
Together, we will continue building a strong and resilient future for the Yukon.
Sincerely,
Michelle Dawson-Beattie